Fsbuild-2 Flight Planner

Ernie-

Here a few of the observations I've made with the next release version of the Smith's FMS.

For the most part, the changes made have been a good improvement--with the FMS adhering to more crossing restrictions, its possible to plan a flight from takeoff to touchdown and hit every altitude all the way to the last waypoint in an approach where you'd normally click off the AP.

This is especially useful since the FMS doesn't have the database of instrument approaches normally available in such a unit or even a GPS. Thus, you can program the fixes for say, a LOC approach, even though its not an RNAV approach. The FMS will fly the approach just like a real one would "overlay" the fixes.

The down side, is that, for whatever reason, the unit just isn't consistent. Firstly, it may just decide not to adhere to a crossing restriction but it will do every one subsequent....go figure. For example, yesterday, I was doing a flight from Napa County to Mather which went from the SGD VOR to HNW VOR, followed by the four fixes of the localizer approach. The FMS hit every one except for the descent from 7000' at HNW to 6500' at CAMRR. It nailed every one flawlessly after that.

The second thing I find it doing is stopping a descent somewhere in the middle:



As you can see, the plane stopped about halfway down to 1800' for no reason (the altitude tape in the red circle no longer has the purple rate of descent line).

Sometimes, the FMS will arbitrarily create altutudes out of no where.



Note the 13,000 waypoint created past CAMRR where it should be no higher than 6500. Sometimes even when on an approach, the FMS will wait until the last minute and then dive down to reach the altitude restriction at a precipitous rate (2500-3000 fpm).


Lastly, the time variable that the new version has incorporated seems like an excellent solution to making the changeover from one waypoint to another. For myself, I don't see any reason to differentiate between SIDS and STARS and regular fixes but maybe others will think otherwise.

Update:

Okay, I took my spiffy Citation X out for a ride to test this new stuff and it flew pretty much perfectly.


I should point out that after I shot the missed approach at Hemet, the FMS refused to accept any speed other than the last one I had given it (130 kts), until I turned off the autopilot, LNAV, VNAV, and FLC. In fairness, I think it may be an issue of the order in which these things need to be turned off and then turned back on again(?)

In any event, the plane continued to meet the altitude restrictions until I reached the 2nd to last fix on the LOC approach at KFUL:



The plane met every altitude until it began its descent down to 1000'(QEWTI at 2000' and CONGA at 1000'). It stopped at 1850' and stayed there, past CONGA and even when the PFD changed to 100' for the airport elevation, the plane still refused to go any lower.

Interesting.

Then you should set it at zero so if you want to engage the autothrottle, you would do it seperately with a different button right? (like FLC or IAS)

Do I understand correctly that by default, the setting is at "1"?

No problem.


[Window Titles]
Window00=Cockpit View
Window01=MiniPanel
Window02=Left Tilt Panel
Window03=Right Tilt Panel
Window04=Console
Window05=Dual ISG FMS
Window06=APU
Window07=ISG FMC
Window08=Citation X SimIcon
Window09=Citation X SimIcons VC
Window10=Reality XP 530 GPS
Window11=Reality XP Wx500 Radar
Window12=ISG HSI




[VIEWS]
VIEW_FORWARD_WINDOWS=0,MINIPANEL,25,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,16201,16203,20

VIEW_FORWARD_ZOOM=0.800
VIEW_FORWARD_DIR=4.800, 0.000, 0.000

VIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT_ZOOM=0.700
VIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT_EYE=0.000, 0.000, 0.000
VIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT_DIR=7.000, 0.000, 45.000

VIEW_RIGHT_ZOOM=0.700
VIEW_RIGHT_EYE=0.000, 0.000, 0.300

VIEW_REAR_RIGHT_ZOOM=0.700
VIEW_REAR_RIGHT_EYE=0.000, 0.000, 0.000

VIEW_REAR_ZOOM=0.700
VIEW_REAR_EYE=0.100, 0.000, 0.200

VIEW_REAR_LEFT_ZOOM=0.700
VIEW_REAR_LEFT_EYE=-0.200, 0.000, 0.100

VIEW_LEFT_ZOOM=0.700
VIEW_LEFT_EYE=0.000, 0.000, 0.200

VIEW_FORWARD_LEFT_ZOOM=0.700
VIEW_FORWARD_LEFT_EYE=0.000, 0.000, 0.000
VIEW_FORWARD_LEFT_DIR=8.500, 0.000, 315.000

VIEW_FORWARD_UP_ZOOM=0.700
VIEW_FORWARD_UP_DIR=-6.000, 0.000, 0.000



//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window00]
file=..\Panel\CitationX_main.bmp
size_mm=1024
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=7
visible=1
ident=0
window_size= 1.000, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

gauge00=escxvariavles!escxvariavles, 114,704,100,50
gauge01=escxlogic!escxlogic, 185,405,24,7
gauge02=escxeicas!escxeicas, 756,438,270,347
gauge03=escxpfdset!escxpfdset, 228,372,200,64
//gauge04=escxpfdtop!escxpfdtop, 220,434,270,177
//gauge05=escxpfdlower!escxpfdlower, 220,611,270,170
//gauge06=escxmfd!escxmfd, 488,438,270,347
gauge07=cxcaws1!cxcaws1, 826,594,77,6
gauge08=cxcaws2!cxcaws2, 826,600,77,6
gauge09=cxcaws3!cxcaws3, 826,606,77,6
gauge10=cxcaws4!cxcaws4, 826,612,77,6
gauge11=escxautopilot!escxautopilot, 773,205,251,113
gauge12=escxmaster!escxmaster, 325,332,97,38
gauge13=escxmode!escxmode, 4,685,211,82
gauge14=escxtrim!escxtrim, 783, 602 ,20,8
gauge15=escxstbyeng!escxstbyeng, 750,335,103,99
gauge16=escxaoa!escxaoa, 125,430,82,82
gauge17=escxcompass!escxcompass, 848,75,107,45
gauge18=escxgpws!escxgpws, 880,331,119,30
gauge19=escxfastslow!escxfastslow, 797,100,14,38
gauge20=escxstbyadi!escxstbyadi, 536,334,105,103
gauge21=escxlglare!escxlglare, 592,217,180,98
gauge22=escxstbyaltim!escxstbyaltim, 430,334,103,99
gauge23=escxappopup!escxappopup, 856,366,165,70
gauge24=escxstbyhsi!escxstbyhsi, 643,334,103,99
gauge25=cxcaws5!cxcaws5, 826,618,77,6
gauge26=cxcaws6!cxcaws6, 826,624,77,6
gauge27=cxcaws7!cxcaws7, 826,630,77,6
gauge28=cxcaws8!cxcaws8, 826,636,77,6
gauge29=cxcaws9!cxcaws9, 826,642,77,6
gauge30=cxcaws10!cxcaws10, 826,648,77,6
gauge31=cxcaws11!cxcaws11, 826,654,77,6
gauge32=cxcaws12!cxcaws12, 826,660,77,6
gauge33=cxcaws13!cxcaws13, 826,666,77,6
gauge34=cxcaws14!cxcaws14, 826,672,77,6
gauge35=cxcaws15!cxcaws15, 826,678,77,6
gauge36=cxcaws16!cxcaws16, 826,684,77,6
gauge37=cxcaws17!cxcaws17, 826,690,77,6
gauge38=cxsimicon!cxsimicon_X2d, 101,493,17,17
gauge39=escxvf!escxvf, 83,493,17,17
gauge40=escxaudio!escxaudio, 3,570,212,114
gauge41=escxcbpanel!escxcbpanel, 2,346,116,142
gauge42=escxmisc1!escxmisc1, 32,515,186,56
gauge43=cxsimicon!Tail_Number, 239,342,54,28
gauge44=escxastag!escxastag, 433,269,100
gauge45=cxsimicon!cxsimicon_X2d, 101,493,17,17
//gauge46=RealityXP_JetLine4!GPWS_TEST, 880,331,32,32
//gauge47=RealityXP_JetLine4!GPWS_GS, 916,331,32,32
//gauge48=RealityXP_JetLine4!GPWS_FLAPS, 952,331,32,32
gauge49=RealityXP_WX500!IC_RDR, 83,475,17,17
gauge50=RealityXP_FL530XP!DEV_SELECT_SWITCH, 294,340,30,30
gauge51=ISG1!VNAV, 103, 475, 17,17
gauge52=ISG1!LNAV, 103, 455, 17,17
gauge53=RealityXP_JetLine4!EADI, 220, 438, 270, 330
gauge54=isg1!P1000_MFD, 490, 438, 270, 330
gauge55=ISG1_TCAS!Logic, 1,1,1,1



//--------------------------------------------------------

[Window01]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=456,378
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=0
ident=20
window_size= 0.390, 0.375
window_pos= 0.0, 0.760

gauge00=escxgpsclose!escxgpsclose, 18,24,396,324
//gauge01=fs9gps!gps_500, 0,1,456,378

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window02]
file=..\Panel\L_tilt.bmp
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=1024,768
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=1
ident=25
window_size= 1.000, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

gauge00=escxltiltclose!escxltiltclose, 1,24,1012,137
gauge01=escxelectric!escxelectric, 635,5,375,221
gauge02=escxfuel!escxfuel, 213,5,293,220
gauge03=escxo2!escxo2, 16,2,149,223
gauge04=escxgear!escxgear, 511,7,119,223
gauge05=escxrotartest!escxrotartest, 10,231,98,98


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window03]
file=..\Panel\R_tilt.bmp
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=1024,768
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=1
ident=40
window_size= 1.000, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

gauge00=escxrtiltclose!escxrtiltclose, 10,20,1006,143
gauge01=escxhyd!escxhyd, 232,6,228,221
gauge02=escxpressure!escxpressure, 470,6,271,222
gauge03=escxaircond!escxaircond, 779,6,239,221
gauge04=escxantiice!escxantiice, 8,7,215,217
gauge05=escxpressureind!escxpressureind, 794,230,226,103


//--------------------------------------------------------

[Window04]
file=CXped.bmp
file_1024=CXped.bmp
size_mm=768,768
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=2
visible=1
ident=50
window_size= 0.750, 1.000
window_pos= 0.250, 0.000

gauge00=escxrmu!escxrmu, 182,7,216,262
gauge01=escxrmu2!escxrmu2, 552,7,216,262
gauge02=escxconsole!escxconsole, 184,273,584
gauge03=escxstbyradio!escxstbyradio, 400,35,149,199
gauge04=escxconsoleclose!escxconsoleclose, 283,285,357,399

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window05]
file=..\Panel\FMC Trim.bmp
size_mm=768,768
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=2
visible=1
ident=60
window_size= 0.750, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

//gauge00=escxfmcclose!escxfmcclose, 413,284,335,247
//gauge01=escxfmc!escxfmc, 325,137,220,288
//gauge02=escxapsetright!escxapsetright, 577,433,162,78
//gauge03=escxapsetleft!escxapsetleft, 356,433,162,78
//gauge04=escxfmc2!escxfmc2, 545,137,220,288
gauge05=escxpedtrim!escxpedtrim, 325,512,440,255

gauge00=isg1!SMITHS_FMS, 325, 137, 220, 378
gauge01=isg1!SMITHS_FMS, 545,137,220,378



//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window06]
file=..\Panel\APUwindow.bmp
size_mm=1024,768
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=0
ident=70
window_size= 1.000, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

gauge00=escxapuclose!escxapuclose, 865,418,138,293
gauge01=escxapu!escxapu, 860,491,148,246
gauge02=escxapulights!escxapulights, 906,504,53,44
gauge03=escxapumisc!escxapumisc, 854,309,159,172


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window07]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=1024,768
window_size_ratio=1.000
//position=0
visible=0
ident=80
window_size= 1.000, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

//gauge00=escxfmc2close!escxfmc2close, 832,82,156,154
//gauge01=escxfmc!escxfmc, 803,2,220,288
gauge00=isg1!SMITHS_FMS, 325, 137, 350, 500

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window08]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=188,56
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=0
ident=90
window_size= 0.184, 0.074
window_pos= 0.029, 0.670

gauge00=cxsimicon!cxsimicon2d, 0,0,188,56


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window09]
Background_color=8,8,8
size_mm=189,58
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=0
ident=100
window_size= 0.189, 0.090
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

gauge00=cxsimicon!cxsimicon3d, 0,0,189,58

//----------------------------------------------------------

[Window10]
window_pos=0.610000,0.648536
window_size=0.390625,0.351563
visible=0
ident=20
gauge00=RealityXP_FL530XP!GNS530, 0,0,100,100


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window11]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=240,220
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=0
ident=16203
window_size= 0.240, 0.220
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

gauge00=RealityXP_WX500!RDR, 0,0,240,220


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window12]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=300,250
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=2
visible=1
window_size= 0.328, 0.314
//window_pos= 0.240, 0.330

ident=4008
gauge00=ISG1! EFS50_EHSI, 0, 0, 300, 250


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit01]
file=..\Panel\L_Main.bmp
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=512,512
visible=0
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$L_main

gauge00=escxmaster!escxmaster, 216,327,41,16
gauge01=escxstbyadi!escxstbyadi, 305,328,44,44
gauge02=escxstbyaltim!escxstbyaltim, 260,328,44,43
//gauge03=escxpfdset!escxpfdset, 175,344,84,26
gauge04=escxmode!escxmode, 80,476,90,34
gauge05=escxaoa!escxaoa, 130,368,36,35
gauge06=escxeicas!escxeicas, 397,372,114,145
//gauge07=escxmfd!escxmfd, 283,372,114,145
//gauge08=escxpfdlower!escxpfdlower, 171,443,113,74
//gauge09=escxpfdtop!escxpfdtop, 171,371,113,72
gauge10=escxstbyeng!escxstbyeng, 395,328,42,43
gauge11=escxgpws!escxgpws, 444,326,58,15
gauge12=escxvariavles!escxvariavles, 262,314,8,8
gauge13=escxstbyhsi!escxstbyhsi, 350,328,43,43
gauge14=escxelectric!escxelectric, 363, 4 ,140,86
gauge15=escxo2!escxo2, 39,3,57,90
gauge16=escxfuel!escxfuel, 127,3,117,88
gauge17=cxsimicon!cxsimicon_X3d, 120,394,9,9
gauge18=escxvf!escxvf, 111,394,9,9
gauge19=escxaudio!escxaudio, 80,427,90,49
gauge20=escxcbpanel!escxcbpanel, 44,467,33,43
gauge21=cxsimicon!Tail_Number, 177,332,26,12
gauge22=cxcaws1!cxcaws1, 427,437,32,3
gauge23=cxcaws2!cxcaws2, 427,440,32,3
gauge24=cxcaws3!cxcaws3, 427,443,32,3
gauge25=cxcaws4!cxcaws4, 427,446,32,3
gauge26=cxcaws5!cxcaws5, 427,449,32,3
gauge27=cxcaws6!cxcaws6, 427,452,32,3
gauge28=cxcaws7!cxcaws7, 427,455,32,3
gauge29=cxcaws8!cxcaws8, 427,458,32,3
gauge30=cxcaws9!cxcaws9, 427,461,32,3
gauge31=cxcaws10!cxcaws10, 427,464,32,3
gauge32=cxcaws11!cxcaws11, 427,467,32,3
gauge33=cxcaws12!cxcaws12, 427,470,32,3
gauge34=cxcaws13!cxcaws13, 427,473,32,3
gauge35=cxcaws14!cxcaws14, 427,476,32,3
gauge36=escxastag!escxastag, 262,298,42,28
gauge37=RealityXP_WX500!IC_RDR, 111,385,9,9
gauge38=RealityXP_FL530XP!DEV_SELECT_SWITCH, 204,333,10,9
gauge39=isg1!P1000_MFD, 283, 372, 114, 144
gauge40=RealityXP_JetLine4!EADI, 171, 372, 111, 140

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


//--------------------------------------------------------

[Vcockpit02]
file=R_Main.bmp
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=512,512
visible=0
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$R_Main

gauge00=escxapumisc!escxapumisc, 315,341,41,41
gauge01=escxmasterright!escxmasterright, 186,293,49,19
//gauge02=escxmfd!escxmfd, 41,347,134,170
gauge03=escxmode!escxmode, 309,468,107,42
//gauge04=escxpfdlower!escxpfdlower, 174,433,135,83
//gauge05=escxpfdtop!escxpfdtop, 174,345,135,87
gauge06=escxpressureind!escxpressureind, 420,475,74,32
gauge07=escxaircond!escxaircond, 409,3,88,86
gauge08=escxantiice!escxantiice, 63,5,85,85
gauge09=escxapu!escxapu, 437,96,48,78
gauge10=escxapulights!escxapulights, 452,101,16,12
gauge11=escxhyd!escxhyd, 166,4,95,86
gauge12=escxpressure!escxpressure, 280,4,109,86
gauge13=escxvcgear!escxvcgear, 10,3,44,88
//gauge14=escxpfdset!escxpfdset, 185, 313 ,100,32
gauge15=cxsimicon!Tail_Number, 256,299,26,12
gauge16=isg1!P1000_MFD, 41, 345, 134, 169
gauge40=RealityXP_JetLine4!EADI, 176, 345, 133, 167

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit03]
file=..\Panel\Ped_FMC.bmp
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=512,512
visible=0
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$Ped_FMC

gauge00=escxrmu2!escxrmu2, 125,1,72,86
gauge01=escxstbyradio!escxstbyradio, 73,11,51,72
//gauge02=escxfmc!escxfmc, 287,4,110,144
//gauge03=escxfmc2!escxfmc2, 397,4,110,144
gauge02=isg1!SMITHS_FMS, 287,4,110,144
gauge03=isg1!SMITHS_FMS, 397,4,110,144

gauge04=escxcompass!escxcompass, 383,419,27,17
gauge05=escxlglare!escxlglare, 284,472,65,34
gauge06=escxrglare!escxrglare, 443,473,62,35
gauge07=escxfastslow!escxfastslow, 358,419,6,18
gauge08=escxpedtrim!escxpedtrim, 7,404,184,108
gauge09=escxautopilot!escxautopilot, 352,466,87,41
gauge10=escxconsolevc!escxconsolevc, 1,87,197,159
gauge11=RealityXP_WX500!RDR, 99,327,90,76
gauge12=RealityXP_FL530XP!GNS530, 7,333,91,71
//gauge14=RealityXP_JetLine4!RTU2, 1, 44 ,72,43
gauge13=escxrmu!escxrmu, 1,1,72,86
gauge14= ISG1!MCU, 99, 212, 90, 57
gauge15=RealityXP_JetLine4!RTU2, 2, 2, 71, 85

[Color]
Day=255,255,255
Night=30,30,30
Luminous=64,64,64

[Default View]
X=0
Y=0
SIZE_X=8192
SIZE_Y=2814

I've noticed a couple of strange things as well with the TOD in Beta 10:

Using the Smiths FMC in Milton Shupe's Howard Aero 500, I've found that the TOD in the DES page is always the distance to the fix, while the T/D indicator correctly indicates where to begin descent according to the VNAV profile.



Until today, that is, when flying NIUE to NFTP via DODUX NFTP110/10 (named by the FMC as NFT01). About 40nm from DODUX, I removed DODUX, to go direct NFT01. This put me at an offset from the direct course from NIUE, and for some reason the FMC didn't catch that I reached TOD. It Never gave vertical profile information for the remainder of the flight.